Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-20
PorAre GROWING.
practical Farmer.l

AN OC1t RVN8NONo VIM uhNG
ever seen have invariably been planted
on soils varying between a sandy and
clay loan. On heavy land, especially
when not underdrained, the crops have
been poor and unproductive, the seed
coming up, except in occasional spots.
Land designed for potatoes should be
thoroughly drained with tiles, as the
cost will, in the end, be much less
than that resulting from an entire fail
ure OF the potatoes. II the farm is SO
situated that a part OF the soil is heavy
and the other part light, the owner
would do well TO select the soil which
il not quite heavy enough to need
draining for his potato field. and in a
dry or wet season he will then stand
a good chance Of raising a successful
crop.
The ground will need to be finely
pulverized with the pillow and harrow
before the seed is put in. Fall plow-
ing for potatoes will not be Of much
benefit; it remains, however, optional
with the farmer. for it certainly will
do no harm. The ground can be
worked over in the spring until il is
devoid Of all Jumps and sods. Pillow
deeply. as a deep soil, deeply plowed,
is undoubtedly the best for potato
growing
In the selection and cutting of seeds
there is one infallible rule TO follow
that have found applies in almost all
cases. Select the potato with respect
TO size and quality that comes the
nearest to your ideal Of potatoes; that
is, take the medium aud large potatoes
Tor your seed. and not the small ones
OF the exclusively large ones only. II
q whole large potato and a whole small
potato are planted at the same time,
there will be no appreciable difference
in the size OF the yield. The best yield
is obtained when the half Of a good
medium-sized potato is used for seed
II not selected at digging time the pre-
ceding summer, they should be picked
out at once and placed in dark place
where the sprouts will have a chance
to start.
Potatoes for seed should be cut on
the day Of planting. and not several
DAYS beforehand. When kept even for
= day after cutting, considerable risk
is run by the farmer Cut only a.
many as are needed for one days
planting. and those that are left over
Feed 10 the cattle rather than use them
for seed. More loss from potato grow
ing is caused by this practice OF cut
ting up all the seed at once than many
imagine. and experience has taught
large growers that they cannot afford
to run the risk that is involved in the
work, even though it saves time and
labor.
MAnuring the potato field properly
requires judgment and experience
The soils Of farms differ so in their
composition that the mode Of treat
ment that would apply 70 one field
would not answer for another. Some
crops. such a. corn and vines. want
their manure near the top Of the
ground, but potatoes can best utilize
il when il is some distance down. To
mix il up well with the lower soil, then,
will require its application in the fall
so that il can leach through gradually
during the winter months. The rains
and SHOWS will work il into the surface
OF the soil and the pillow in the spring
will turn il over and put IL in the pro-
per place for the roots Of the potatoes.
z The manure should be well rotted be-
/ fore il is spread on in the fall. 80 that
none OF its richness can he dissipated
bv evaporation or blown Oft By the
winds. II sufficient quantities are put
on the field in the fall. il will be unne-
I ceSsary 70 put any manure in the hills.
: as the roots Of the potatoes will surely
/ ind the nourishing substances il they
are placed low enough down for them.
I Besides. this method saves considera-
; he labor.
The relative value Of commercial
( fertilizers and baruyard manure Is va
I riouslv estimated for potatoes, but the
hest results have been obtained from
I the latter when applied in the proper
condition. IL should Be rotten. very
rotten, and all large Jumps fined down
/ and spread evenly over the ground.
I Coarse. fhrous substances, such a.
straw. that have not been decomposed
sufficiently. viii be blown Of the field
in the winter and . material loss occa-
stoned in other WAYS. Rotten stable
manure will increase the yield Of 70
tatoes every time. while commercial
fertilizers viii sometimes fail on Ger
tain soils The best way is for each
farmer 70 experiment IN his own way
using both commercial and home
made fertilizers on . small scale, anc
govern his actions in accordance with
the result,